Need reassurance - need biopsy...

[Alphabetsoup]

Hi all...

I had an ultrasound scan last week and they found a freaking huge nodule taking up the whole of the right side of the thyroid. I have to have a fine needle biopsy in February (the earliest they could get me in). I know that thyroid cancer is rare (only 5% of nodules are cancerous)...it isn't the possibility of cancer that worries me (funnily enough) it is the NEEDLE. I'm a HUGE wimp...

I've got some xanax to take prior to the appointment, but I'm wanting to hear from others who have had biopsies...not necessarily thyroid...anywhere really.

How bad was it painwise??

 

[L107ANGEL]

Take the xanax as precribed, if you feel any pain afterwards the Dr should give you a light srcipt. Best wishes

 

[Christine]

First off--I'm sorry you have to go through this. I hate medical procedures.

Second--I have had thyroid cancer. I could not be biopsied because of the location of my nodule and just went right to surgery. When I was having surgery, I didn't think I had cancer or anything.

I know many people who had the biopsy and say that it isn't too bad. They do take several samples and you can end up a bit bruised but I never have heard anyone say it is terribly painful. If the nodule is large, it will make it even easier.

I have had several biopsies elsewhere and I've always found them to be quite tolerable.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I had that done. My endocrinologist took 5 needle biopsies. I HATE shots. But I sort of zoned myself out while he was doing it, and honestly..it hurt-but just a very little bit. It didn't take him long, about 10 minutes. My DH was with me to hold my hand, and really..it wasn't that bad, only what you put into your mind is what makes it bad. It was uncomfortable, I won't lie..but not really painful. It is freaky to have needles stuck into your neck, but you can do this.

I ended up having to have part of my thryoid removed. Again..not bad. I spent one night in the hospital, my wonderful surgeon hid the incision in a wrinkle in my neck. You can't even see it now-7 years later. (actually it disappeared after a few years.) I didn't even need pain meds afterwards.

Really..you can do this. Take someone with you, make sure you breathe so you don't pass out. Good luck.

 

[denisenh]

i had a cervical biopsy, .....it hurt....but didn't take long. good luck with yours!

i am having a look and see for a lump (by a surgeon) the first week of Feb. (the earliest for me too)
We can look forward to our appointments now! the worst is the wait.

 

[wowsmom]

I had that done. My endocrinologist took 5 needle biopsies. I HATE shots. But I sort of zoned myself out while he was doing it, and honestly..it hurt-but just a very little bit. It didn't take him long, about 10 minutes. My DH was with me to hold my hand, and really..it wasn't that bad, only what you put into your mind is what makes it bad. It was uncomfortable, I won't lie..but not really painful. It is freaky to have needles stuck into your neck, but you can do this.

I have to agree 100% with hrh. I even had my DH go along with me. Then afterward, we went out to lunch before he had to go back to work.

 

[JoyG]

I had a thyroid biopsy. Needles don't bother me much at all. This one was uncomfortable but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't think twice about it. The part I disliked the most was knowing I couldn't swallow when the needle is in there. Because, of course if someone tells me I can't swallow, I'm going to suddenly get the overwhelming urge to do it!

I would probably load up on the tylenol or motrin (ask your doc) before I go though. I think it will be slightly more tolerable if you do.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Sending prayers and pixie dust your way! Hope all comes out well!!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I had a thyroid biopsy. Needles don't bother me much at all. This one was uncomfortable but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't think twice about it. The part I disliked the most was knowing I couldn't swallow when the needle is in there. Because, of course if someone tells me I can't swallow, I'm going to suddenly get the overwhelming urge to do it!

I would probably load up on the tylenol or motrin (ask your doc) before I go though. I think it will be slightly more tolerable if you do.

I didn't do this, but it sounds like a good idea. I don't remember being sore afterward, but I imagine it's possible. Like JoyG said, ask your Dr. first. Probably no aspirin beforehand.


ETA: the needle biopsy didn't freak me out half as much as when I had to have an uptake done. The guy walks out into the area that is marked "RADIATION PRESENT" (or something like that), holding a lead tube in his lead gloved hands, opens it up, rolls out a pill (that is radioactive) and tells me to swallow it. Now THAT was freaky!!

 

[claudia]

Had thyroid cancer and had the FNB. I had a fairly large nodule right in the front of my thyroid (2.5 cm) and it was visable to the eye. I did not take anything before the biopsy and I can honestly say that there was more pressure than anything else. I didn't have any pain and my doc made 5 passes in the nodule. I did have a slight tenderness over the nodule the next day, but nothing that I needed pain meds for. But everyone is different so you should just do what you think is best for you. Best of luck

 

[claudia]

I didn't do this, but it sounds like a good idea. I don't remember being sore afterward, but I imagine it's possible. Like JoyG said, ask your Dr. first. Probably no aspirin beforehand.


ETA: the needle biopsy didn't freak me out half as much as when I had to have an uptake done. The guy walks out into the area that is marked "RADIATION PRESENT" (or something like that), holding a lead tube in his lead gloved hands, opens it up, rolls out a pill (that is radioactive) and tells me to swallow it. Now THAT was freaky!!

I tell you something even freaker....after my surgery I went into the hospital for my RAI treatment. Now, I am isolated in a lead lined room, in walks the doc and assistant (covered in lead aprons, etc) and they are pulling this large container on what looks like a skid jack. They pop open the top of this container with a tool and inside is this huge (that's how it looked to me ) pill which the assistant precedes to pick up with a metal forcep and then tells me to put my hand out and take the pill....within minutes I was glowing....I swear it...

 

[Christine]

Do NOT take Motrin/Advil prior to the biopsy. These cause blood thinning and you will have a lot of internal thyroid bleeding if you do. Just stick with Tylenol. It doesn't seem to work as well for pain but you won't over-bleed.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I tell you something even freaker....after my surgery I went into the hospital for my RAI treatment. Now, I am isolated in a lead lined room, in walks the doc and assistant (covered in lead aprons, etc) and they are pulling this large container on what looks like a skid jack. They pop open the top of this container with a tool and inside is this huge (that's how it looked to me ) pill which the assistant precedes to pick up with a metal forcep and then tells me to put my hand out and take the pill....within minutes I was glowing....I swear it...

Oh yeah, I forgot about the lead forceps. They are protecting themselves all over the place, and they are asking us to SWALLOW this thing? It WAS huge.

Do NOT take Motrin/Advil prior to the biopsy. These cause blood thinning and you will have a lot of internal thyroid bleeding if you do. Just stick with Tylenol. It doesn't seem to work as well for pain but you won't over-bleed.

I didn't know Motrin Advil thinned blood, that's what I was thinking when I said "no aspirin".

OP, you are going to be fine with this procedure. Start another thread when it's done and let us know how well you did!

 

[crz4mm2]

Piece of cake.
I had two done. One with lidocaine to numb the skin, one without. I made it just fine.

Here's a prayer you get a neg biopsy report. I was told that the needle biopsy only gets those cells that it sticks (very fine needle) so I could still have cancer cells in another part of the nodule.

I chose to have the whole thing removed.

 

[denisenh]

Do NOT take Motrin/Advil prior to the biopsy. These cause blood thinning and you will have a lot of internal thyroid bleeding if you do. Just stick with Tylenol. It doesn't seem to work as well for pain but you won't over-bleed.

i was told no vitamin e caps, no omega3 caps, no ibuprophen, no aspirin

 

[Erin1700]

My dad had it done, he said it was not as bad as he thought.

Good luck!

 

[cjlvsccm]

Hi all...

I had an ultrasound scan last week and they found a freaking huge nodule taking up the whole of the right side of the thyroid. I have to have a fine needle biopsy in February (the earliest they could get me in). I know that thyroid cancer is rare (only 5% of nodules are cancerous)...it isn't the possibility of cancer that worries me (funnily enough) it is the NEEDLE. I'm a HUGE wimp...

I've got some xanax to take prior to the appointment, but I'm wanting to hear from others who have had biopsies...not necessarily thyroid...anywhere really.

How bad was it painwise??

Sorry you have to go through this!

I don't remember pain from when I had a thyroid biopsy (and needle aspiration of a fluid-filled cyst). I gladly faced the needle, rather than keep the freakish lump that was choking me!

Just remember being hesitant, like you, of the procedure itself. The local anesthetic worked fine, and I just felt pressure.

But like JoyG said, being told you can't swallow may make the saliva run on hyperdrive! Just try to relax, and don't think of anything tasty.

Let us know how it goes with you!